Building Wall Structure

ABSTRACT

A building wall structure in which pre-hung wall parts ( 1 ) that are provided in the form of slats, boards, or similar elements are joined to a solid substructure ( 3 ) forming the actual wall structure via fasteners ( 2 ). Siding elements ( 4 ) can be fixed to the pre-hung wall parts ( 1 ). At least some of the fasteners ( 2 ) are inserted at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane (H) and are alternately inclined at least in opposite directions relative to the horizontal plane (H). The pre-hung wall parts ( 1 ) that are provided in the form of slats, boards, or similar elements form a type of truss girder ( 5 ) along with the fasteners ( 2 ) and the substructure ( 3 ).

The invention relates to a wall structure in a building, in which pre-hung-wall parts in the form of slats, boards, or the like are connected via fasteners to the fixed substructure, forming the actual wall element, and allowing exterior siding elements to be connected to the pre-hung wall parts.

In a known method for fastening wooden construction parts in front of a concrete wall or masonry wall (DE 19705202B4) slats, panels, or the like are held at a distance from the wall via adjustable screws, which are inserted into pre-drilled holes in the substructure and into the wooden construction parts. Using such distancing screws, a leveling of the wood construction parts is possible in reference to the substructure. The adjustment screws are overall stressed by a bending load so that an overall support of the wood construction part towards the bottom is necessary.

Further, an exterior wall is known (DE 19703874C2) comprising a wooden wall, a insulating layer mounted at the exterior of the wooden wall, and an exterior siding. The exterior siding is mounted to a rear paneling, which is mounted to the wooden wall via screwed-in connection screws pointing diagonally upward. These connecting screws are provided with a thread extending over the entire length of the shaft and are screwed in at an angle ranging from 60 to 80° in reference to the horizontal line. These connecting screws are stressed in tension and in bending, with a respectively heavy exterior siding presenting a risk for the connecting screws to be bent and thus further compressing the insulating layer, unless these rear panels are additionally fully supported towards the bottom or the thermal insulation must be provided with a sufficient compressive resistance.

A known screw for fastening wooden panels on a roof or wall substructure (DE29805784U1) is screwed into the sub-structure horizontally or at an acute angle in reference to the horizontal line. Here, the rear paneling is compressed to the sub-structure including any old siding potentially arranged thereat, which is even enhanced by the various thread pitches. Due to the fact that the rear paneling does not require any distance from the substructure no problems result here from tensile or compressive forces or bending moments onto the screws.

Further, a screw is known for the use in a subroof and a respective subroof (DE29607265U1 or EP0448915A1), with the screws being anchored in a fixed manner by threaded sections both in the rear paneling as well as in the roof trusses. This results in a stiff strutting between the rear panels and the trusses, which is even resistant to heavy loads of snow. Such constructions are to be used exclusively in the area of roofs, because here primarily the vertical load by the weight of snow is to be considered. This can be achieved by several screws being stressed for tension and/or compression.

The object of the present invention is therefore to improve a wall structure of the type mentioned at the outset.

According to the invention this is achieved in that at least some of the fasteners are inserted at an acute angle in reference to a horizontal plane and at least partially are inclined alternating in opposite directions in reference to a horizontal plane, with the pre-hung wall parts in the form of slats, boards, or the like each form together with the fasteners and together with the substructure a type of truss girder and thus a type of a self-supporting pre-hung façade can be achieved.

Truss girders are generally only used to bridge support sites located apart, thus in a horizontal position or one extending at an acute angle in reference to a horizontal line. By the invention a type of truss girder is created, which forms part of a wall in the vertical alignment. By the exterior siding elements a considerable vertical load is applied in the direction of the pre-hung wall parts in the form of slats, boards, or the like, with this load having to be transferred into the actual wall element to the largest extent, thus the solid substructure. By the respective arrangement of the fasteners the invention achieves that all suitable measures are given to create a stable construction per se, via tensile and compressive forces in the area of the fasteners according to a type of a vertically extending truss girder, without all forces having to be compensated downwards by supports for the pre-hung wall parts.

The load of the facade, i.e. the pre-hung wall parts and the exterior siding elements, and also the wind load is thus introduced point-wise into the actual supporting wall elements via the inserted fasteners. Due to the point-type fastening with alternating diagonally screwed-in fasteners, this results in practically no construction parts in the insulation layer, which could negatively influence the thermal insulation or the noise insulation.

For one particular embodiment, it is provided that the fasteners alternating form an acute angle in reference to a horizontal plane pointing alternating upwards and downwards from the sub-structure, so that each subsequently following pairs of fasteners forms an angle equal or smaller than 90°. In this manner, a classical form of a truss girder is created, in which alternating fasteners are stressed by compression and tension.

Another constructive embodiment of the wall structure provides that the fasteners enclose acute angles pointing alternating upwards and downwards in reference to a horizontal plane and are located in a horizontal plane such that each subsequent pairs of fasteners in the vertical direction forms an acute angle equal or smaller than 45°. Depending on the sequence of the fasteners arranged in this matter they transfer compressive and tensile forces, respectively.

In one embodiment, it is provided that the fasteners of the truss girder are each inserted extending aligned in a vertical plane. The fasteners are then located in different acute angles in reference to the horizontal planes or partially in horizontal planes, but only one vertical plane is provided for the fasteners of each truss girder.

However, another embodiment is also possible, in which the fasteners are each inserted in pairs or at acute angles located opposite in reference to a horizontal plane, extending in the direction of vertical planes located parallel to and at a slight distance from each other. Thus, each truss girder is provided with fasteners extending in at least two vertical planes parallel in reference to each other. Under particular stress, i.e. for example in case of heavy exterior siding elements, here an even more intense introduction of force from the pre-hung wall parts into the solid substructure can occur.

In another embodiment variant, it is provided that the fasteners are screwed in at an acute angle in reference to a horizontal plane or positioned in a horizontal plane in two vertical planes adjacent to each other at an acute angle, with the two vertical planes diverging or converging from the pre-hung wall parts in the direction of the substructure. By this variant additionally a support can be achieved in the horizontal direction parallel in reference to the substructure, which can be advantageous in particular in strong wind stress occurring. Even under such stress in the horizontal direction parallel in reference to the substructure the tensile and compressive stress is immediately transferred via the fasteners from the pre-hung wall parts into the substructure.

A structurally simple solution for the fasteners provides that screws are used as fasteners, which at least at their two end areas are provided with a threaded section. This way a secure anchoring of the fasteners is ensured both in the pre-hung walls parts as well as in the substructure.

When for example the pre-hung wall parts should be pulled slightly further towards the substructure during the screwing in of the fasteners, it is provided that the threaded sections embodied at the two end areas of the fasteners are provided with different thread pitch.

A simple construction is given when the threaded sections embodied at the two end areas of the fasteners are provided with the same thread pitch. Then, even after a first alignment of the pre-hung wall parts it is ensured that after the final screwing in of all fasteners the pre-hung wall parts are located exactly in the vertical alignment and primarily also in the precise allocation in reference to the adjacent pre-hung wall parts.

Another constructive embodiment for fasteners to be used for wall structures provides that the fasteners are provided in the form of screws with a head having a tool socket, with the exterior diameter of the head being only slightly larger than the exterior diameter of the threaded section adjacent thereto. This also ensures that the wall parts, generally comprising slats, boards, beams, or the like made from wood, do not split during the screwing in of the fasteners and thus can serve both for an orderly mounting of the exterior siding elements and for an optimum support in the direction of the substructure. Additionally it is ensured that the head of the screw is always countersunk in the pre-hung wall parts and thus cannot hinder the assembly of the exterior siding elements.

By the simple possibility for fastening the pre-hung wall parts and thus the chance to screw in the fasteners in the form of screws without any pre-drilling of holes into the wall parts and the substructure the wall structure according to the invention provides additional possibilities. Generally, it is provided that between the individual vertically extending truss girders, insulation plates or mats are inserted. Here, it is possible to first position these insulation plates or mats continuously onto the substructure and for example fix them provisionally by stapling, onto which then the pre-hung wall parts are applied and screwed to the substructure.

The wall structure can be formed in different manners, because particularly the introduction of force into the substructure is optimally solved. For example, it is possible that slats, boards, or plates made from wood, wood materials, plastic, slate, natural stone, metal, or fiber-reinforced materials are provided as the exterior wall elements. Here, it is no longer of any essential importance if lighter or heavier exterior wall elements are to be mounted.

Therefore, it also possible that stucco support plates are provided as exterior wall elements. Thus, a wall covered with plaster can also be created with the wall structure according to the invention without any weight problems.

Using the wall structure according to the invention the use of thick insulation plates or mats has also become possible on a new or existing substructure. For example, the substructure forming the wall element per se may comprise massive wood, gluelam, plywood boards, stacked ply wood, or plywood and/or construction parts and combinations of these materials or other wooden materials. Particularly in case of wood, an embodiment is possible made from massive wood or a truss construction. Another possibility provides that the substructure forming the actual wall element is made from brick, clinker, or concrete.

Additional features according to the invention and particular advantages are explained in greater detail in the following description. Shown are:

FIG. 1 a vertical cross-sectional view through a wall structure;

FIG. 2 a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 a vertical cross-sectional view through another embodiment of a wall structure;

FIG. 4 a cross-sectional view taken through the line IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 a vertical cross-sectional view through another embodiment of a wall structure;

FIG. 6 a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 a vertical cross-sectional view through another embodiment of a wall structure;

FIG. 8 a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 a vertical cross-sectional view through another embodiment of a wall structure;

FIG. 10 a cross-sectional view taken along the line X-X in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 a vertical cross-sectional view through another special embodiment of a wall structure, which could also be used in the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 through 10;

FIG. 12 a cross-sectional view taken along the line XII-XII in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 a vertical cross-sectional view through another special embodiment of a wall structure, which could also be used in the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 through 10; and

FIG. 14 a cross-sectional view taken along the line XIV-XIV in FIG. 13.

In a wall structure in a building, as for example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, pre-hung wall parts 1 in the form of slats, boards, or the like are connected by fasteners 2 to a fixed substructure 3 forming the actual wall element. Then, at the pre-hung wall parts 1, exterior siding elements 4 can be mounted in very different exemplary embodiment variants. At least some of the fasteners 2 are inserted at an acute angle W1 and/or W2 in reference to a horizontal plane H. At least partially, the fasteners 2 are alternating sloped in opposite directions in reference to the horizontal plane H, thus the fasteners 2 together with the substructure 3 each form a type of truss girder 5 together with the pre-hung wall parts 1 in the form of slats, boards, or the like.

In a exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the fasteners 2 alternately form an acute angle in reference to the horizontal plane H facing upward or downward from the substructure 3 such that each adjacent pair of fasteners 2 form an angle W3 equal or smaller than 90°.

Another essentially identical constructive design is also shown in the examples according to FIGS. 3 and 4 as well as 5 and 6. Only the material used is different in the substructure 3 or the pre-hung wall parts 1.

Used for the substructure 3 could be wood or wooden materials, such as massive wood (e.g., beams), gluelam, plywood boards, stacked ply wood, plywood, LVL (veneer-layer wood composites) OSB (oriented strand boards) or MDF (medium-dense fiber boards) etc. or other materials such as brick, clinker, concrete etc. However, it may also be components or combinations of these materials. The substructure 3 may also be provided with a planking 6 made from OSB (oriented strand board), MDF (medium-dense fiber board), particle board, wood-fiber composite boards, etc. The pre-hung wall parts 1 may comprise slats, boards, beams, lumber, plywood, DVH (solid wood composites) etc. The exterior siding elements may comprise very different materials. For example, various forms, such as weather boarding, umbrella boarding, shingles made from various materials, such as wood, sheet metal, slate, natural stone, metal etc. may be used. Plaster support plates may also be used as exterior wall elements.

The substructure may therefore be embodied to form the supportive wall construction in form of a frame structure, plate structure, crossbar structure, or even a massive wall. Optimum stability of the pre-hung wall parts 1 is always maintained by the cooperation with the fasteners 2 and the special arrangement thereof and thus the formation of respective truss girders. By the embodiment according to the invention, a bottom support 7 for the pre-hung wall parts 1 is not necessary, because the transfer of forces occurs almost exclusively into the substructure, namely over the entire height of the wall structure. The support 7 therefore serves essentially only to seal a free space between the substructure 3 and the pre-hung wall parts 1 and/or the exterior siding elements.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 7 and 8 as well as 9 and 10 a wall structure is shown, in which alternating fasteners 2 extend upwards (FIG. 9) or downwards (FIG. 7), to form an acute angle W5 and/or W4 in reference to a horizontal plane H extending from the substructure 3, and are located between fasteners that extend in a horizontal plane H, so that each adjacent pair of fasteners 2, following in the vertical direction, form an acute angle W6 and/or W7 equal or smaller than 45°. Therefore, an optimum introduction of force from the pre-hung wall parts 1 via the fasteners 2 into the substructure 3 is ensured, with some fasteners transferring the compressive forces and the other fasteners the tensile forces.

From the drawings it is discernible that in the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 through 10, the fasteners 2 of the truss girder 5 are each inserted aligned in a vertical plane.

In a particular embodiment according to FIGS. 11 and 12, a wall structure is shown in which the fasteners 2 are each inserted in pairs or extending parallel in opposite directions at acute angles W5 in reference to a horizontal plane H at a slight distance in reference to each other in vertical planes VE1 and VE2. This way even intersecting fasteners 2 can be inserted or only fasteners 2 each intersecting in pairs, of which then one of them is located in the vertical planes VE1 and the other one in the vertical plane VE2. This way, another additional reinforcement of the individual truss girder 5 is created.

In FIGS. 13 and 14 a wall structure is discernible, in which the fasteners are screwed in at an acute angle in reference to a horizontal plane or a horizontal plane located in two vertical planes VE3, VE4 together forming an acute angle W6. Thus, an additional possibility arises to transfer forces into the substructure developing horizontally and parallel in reference to the wall structure. The two vertical planes VE3, VE4 diverge or converge originating from the pre-hung wall parts 1, in a direction of the substructure 3. Depending on the constructive design and the forces to be expected the construction can be adjusted appropriately. Thus, even such forces are transferred via the fasteners 2 into the substructure 3, with the fastener transferring the necessary tensile or compressive forces.

In the wall structure, advantageously screws are used as fasteners 2, which are provided with a threaded section 8 and/or 9 at least at their two end areas. The threaded sections 8 and/or 9 embodied at the two end sections of the fasteners 2 can be provided with a different thread pitch. However, it is more advantageous for construction and processing when the two threaded sections 8 and/or 9 embodied at the end areas of the fastener 2 have the same threaded pitch.

Generally the fasteners in the form of screws can be inserted without pre-drilling a hole so that an essential saving of labor is achieved. However, when the substructure 3 comprises clinkers or concrete, it must be predrilled because then a dowel must be inserted into the substructure 3.

The fasteners 2 in the form of screws are provided with a head having a tool receiving socket, with the exterior diameter of the head being only slightly smaller than the exterior diameter of the threaded section 8 adjacent thereto. This way, when the screw head is screwed in it can be arranged countersunk in the pre-hung wall parts 1.

In the wall structure, as discernible from all exemplary embodiments, insulation plates or mats 10 can be inserted between the individual vertically extending truss girders 5, which essentially serve for thermal and/or noise insulation. These insulation plates or mats 10 can also be embodied continuously because the screwing of the pre-hung wall parts 1 may also occur after the laying or stapling of the insulation plates or mats. 

1. A wall structure in a building, comprising pre-hung wall parts connected via fasteners to a solid substructure to form the wall structure, on which exterior siding elements can be mounted to the pre-hung wall parts, at least some of the fasteners (2) are inserted at an acute angle in reference to a horizontal plane (H) and are inclined at least partially alternating in opposite directions in reference to the horizontal plane (H), with the pre-hung wall parts (1) and the fasteners (2) and together with the substructure (3) forming a truss girder (5).
 2. A wall structure according to claim 1, wherein the fasteners (2) extend alternating upwards and downwards and form acute angles (W1, W2) in reference to the horizontal plane (H) and the substructure (3) and adjacent pairs of the fasteners (2) form an angle (W3) that is equal to or smaller than 90°.
 3. A wall structure according to claim 1, wherein the fasteners (2) alternately comprise a first group that form an acute angle (W4 or W5) in reference to the horizontal plane (H), either pointing upwards or downwards from the substructure (3), and a second group that are located in a horizontal plane (H) so that each adjacent pair of the fasteners (2) located in a vertical direction forms an acute angle (W7) equal or smaller than 45°.
 4. A wall structure according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of the truss girders and the fasteners (2) of each of the truss girders (5) are inserted aligned extending in a vertical plane.
 5. A wall structure according to claim 1, wherein the fasteners (2) are inserted in vertical planes (VE1, VE2) each paired or, extending in an opposite direction, extending at an acute angle in reference to the horizontal plane (H), parallel to and at a distance from each other.
 6. A wall structure according to claim 1, wherein the fasteners (2) are screwed in at an acute angle in reference to the horizontal plane (H) or in a horizontal plane and located in a vertical plane (VE3, VE4) forming an acute angle (W6), with two of the vertical planes (VE3, VE4) diverging or converging at an area originating from the pre-hung wall parts (1) in a direction of the substructure.
 7. A wall structure according to claim 1, wherein the fasteners (2) comprise screws, which at least at two end areas thereof are provided with threaded sections (8, 9).
 8. A wall structure according to claim 7, wherein the threaded sections (8, 9) at the two end areas of the fasteners (2) are provided with a different thread pitch.
 9. A wall structure according to claim 7, wherein the thread sections (8, 9) at the two end areas of the fasteners (2) are provided with the same thread pitch.
 10. A wall structure according to claim 7, wherein the fasteners (2) in the form of screws have a head with a tool receiving socket, with an exterior diameter of the head being only slightly larger than an exterior diameter of the thread sections (8) adjacent thereto.
 11. A wall structure according to claim 4, wherein between individual vertically extending ones of the truss girders (5), insulating plates or mats (10) are inserted.
 12. A wall structure according to claim 1, wherein the exterior siding elements comprise slats, boards, or plates made from wood, wood material, plastic, slate, natural stone, metal, or fiber-enforced materials.
 13. A wall structure according to claim 1, wherein plaster support plates are provided as the exterior siding elements (4).
 14. A wall structure according to claim 1, wherein the substructure (3) comprises massive wood, gluelam, plywood boards, stacked ply wood, or plywood and/or construction parts and combinations of said materials or other wooden materials.
 15. A wall structure according to claim 1, wherein the substructure (3) comprises brick, clinker, or concrete. 